Orange Smart Energies says the platform guarantees payment via mobile money.

Orange, a global telecom services provider, is opening its digital platform Orange Smart Energies to all African energy providers.

The company says the goal is to enhance energy inclusion by offering "simple, prepaid access" to electricity via solar kits and smart metres.

According to the business, the IOT platform addresses the profitability difficulties that African energy producers confront by lowering the risk of non-payment.

Orange Smart Energies, was developed by Orange in 2021, is now available to energy providers in Africa and the Middle East, ensuring client payment via mobile money, says the company.

The company says the business model, is built on collaboration between the telco and energy producers, and allows Orange Energies to provide a digital service and a distribution network that makes it easier to access electricity in remote areas, even down to the last kilometre.

“This universal platform is the only one on the market that supports both pay-as-you-go solar equipment and prepaid smart meters,” according to the firm.

Since its launch, the platform is operating in 12 countries (DRC, Madagascar, Cameroon, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Jordan), with over 300,000 families benefiting from its services, according to the company.

Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, comments: "Using digital technology to increase African people's energy inclusion has been our goal since the beginning. By making our Orange Smart Energies platform available to all energy providers, we are taking a significant step towards achieving universal access to energy throughout Africa and the Middle East."

Nat-Sy Missamou, senior vice president of Orange Energies for Africa and the Middle East, says, "We are collaborating with energy producers to assist them maintain their presence in African markets. Our pay-as-you-go service is supplied through an African-specific distribution model, drawing on existing digital and financial inclusion solutions."